Henri François Le Dran facts for kids
Henri François Le Dran (born October 13, 1685 – died October 17, 1770) was a very important French surgeon. He made big changes in how doctors understood and treated diseases like cancer.
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Who Was Henri Le Dran?
Henri Le Dran taught at the Royal Academy of Medicine in Paris, France. He also worked as a surgeon at a hospital called Hôpital de la Charité. He was known for working with another famous surgeon, Jean-Louis Petit. One of his students was a well-known Swiss anatomist named Albrecht von Haller.
How Le Dran Changed Medicine
Le Dran made important discoveries in two main areas: cancer research and military surgery.
Understanding Cancer Better
Le Dran was one of the first doctors to realize that cancer often starts in one specific part of the body. Before him, many people thought cancer was a problem that affected the whole body all at once.
He believed that cancer grew in stages. He said it began as a local problem in one organ. He strongly suggested that surgery should be done early, before the tumor could spread. He knew that cancer could metastasize (spread) through the lymphatic system to other parts of the body.
Military Surgery and "Shock"
Le Dran also did important work in military surgery. He is given credit for introducing the medical term "shock". He used the French word choquer to describe it. He defined shock as a sudden impact or jolt, especially in his writings about gunshot wounds.
Other Discoveries
In 1741, Le Dran was the first person to describe a specific type of hernia. This condition is now known as the Spigelian hernia.
His Writings and Recognition
In 1745, Henri Le Dran was chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very respected group of scientists.
He wrote a famous book about surgery in 1749. It was called Traité des opérations de chirurgie. This book was later translated into English and published as "The Operations in Surgery".
